Credit by Savanna Ruedy

Nikki Era is a multi-dimensional singer/songwriter and artist. Impossible to find any one genre, she experiments in Pop, Dance, Rock, and Alternative mediums. She has written for MTV/Viacom, Universal, Netflix (Julie and the Phantoms), Hulu (Solor Opposites), Sony, Disney, and WWE. Handpicked to co-write JoJo Siwa’s hit phenomenon D.R.E.A.M., which has amassed hundreds of millions of streams and was the namesake for her 2022 world tour. 

Having grown up performing musical theater and refusing to subscribe to the belief that artists must adhere to a certain genre, Nikki creates different ‘eras’ of musicality. Currently, she is in the MEGA ERA, a space where you are free to be big, loud, and unapologetic about taking up space in the world. As such, she has created a body of work heavily influenced by the glamour and boldness of the 80s with contemporary elements.

What was your inspiration behind Lotus? 

Lotus was a metaphor for me coming out of a difficult time personally, professionally, and creatively. I felt really lost and unsupported by my team. I was dealing with trauma and letting other people define me. It was a dark time. I kept imagining this fierce strong unapologetic woman that I wanted to be and I wrote the album from her perspective. Lotus is a celebration of that evolution from impressionable girl to untouchable woman. 

What’s the best way for you to fuel your creativity? 

Fantasy. I love exploring the line between reality and what we can create in our minds. I love how an idea becomes something tangible in the world. It’s like magic. I also love how vast creativity can be and that’s why in 2018 when I started making this album, I decided to call myself Nikki Era. I wanted to clearly give myself permission to create in different spaces at different times in whatever fantasy world I wanted to be in. I never wanted to say, like, ‘Oh I can’t make a country album. I can’t make an alternative album. I can’t do a soul-inspired album.’ I want to do it all. 

Favorite non musical form of art? 

I’d have to say film. I like telling stories and editing them together. I started doing initial edits on some of my videos myself like Beg 4 It and I really enjoyed it. I’d love to get better at it. I also grew up watching a lot of movies with my Dad. He loves film too. And we would watch classic films together and talk about them. I love finding screenings of old films and watching them in a theater. 

Favorite record of all time? Why? What effect does it have on you as an artist?

It’s really so hard to choose just one! Fire and Rain. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door. Nothing Compares to You. It’s All Coming Back to Me Now. Wild World. The Weight. Sprawl II. I’ll Be Seeing You. I think every song I’ve ever heard has affected me as an artist! All the different styles of music, all the different artists, the way they use their voices. I was exposed to a lot of music growing up and I would copy the vocalists. That’s how I learned to sing in different ways. And I would listen to the words and study how the song came together. It shaped me completely.  

Who do you look up in your life and why?

I look up to my mother. She has survived so much. Cancer. Depression. Life’s little tragedies. And she is still bright. She is still growing and changing. She taught me that there is nothing you can’t overcome, and she gave me the greatest gift a woman can have… confidence in herself. 

How was working with JoJo Siwa? 

It was amazing! At the time being she had already accomplished so much at such a young age. It was amazing to see how in control of her life and her message she was. And now to see how much of a role model she is for so many. I am really happy I got to create such a nice message with her for her fans. Simply, to dream. 

Tell us about the story behind this video and what it means to you?

Well, the video is really 3 different setups that give a commentary on femininity, womanhood and our position in society. The first setup is a commentary on the female body as an object and also as art and how they co-exist. It’s very voyeuristic and so I think it’s up to the viewer to perceive it however they do. It should be received in a multitude of ways because women are vast and multi-faceted and have been used as both commodity and art in never ending ways since the beginning of time. The second setup is a discussion of womanhood and the similar experiences we all go through in our lives. I thought synchronized swimming represented that idea. We are all different yet we at times all find ourselves facing the same battles, the same joys, the same expectations, etc. That, to me, is why a sisterhood exists among women all over the world- not our differences- but our shared experiences. The last setup was a bit of a satirical take on 1950s “domestic bliss”. I just wanted to pervert that idea and play with power dynamics. I love the video. I love the team that created it. I am really proud of the message. I’m glad it exists in the world. 

What are your future goals both for music and beyond?

New eras of music. New evolutions of artistic expression. Never being afraid to grow and change. Touring. Connecting. Exploring. Creating. Gratitude.